Labour donor at centre of Starmer freebies row under Lords investigation

The Labour peer at the centre of a row over donations to Sir Keir Starmer is under investigation by the Lords' standards watchdog.

Lord Waheed Alli is facing a probe over "alleged non-registration of interests", leading to a possible breach of the members' code of conduct.

The UK parliament website notes that the TV executive, who is one of the Labour Party's biggest donors and the largest personal donor to the prime minister since December 2019, is being investigated for potential breaches to codes 14(a) and 17.

These are rules requiring members to make clear what the interests are that might be reasonably thought to influence their parliamentary actions, and ensuring entries are up to date.

The Lords' Commissioner declined to give further comment as this is an ongoing investigation.

Lord Alli has found himself in the headlines in recent weeks, after scrutiny over the thousands of pounds he has given to his party's MPs to cover clothes, holidays and work events.

According to data unveiled by Sky News's Westminster Accounts project, he has given Sir Keir upwards of £39,000 in gifts and hospitality since he became Labour leader.

This year alone, the prime minister has received - and disclosed - nearly £19,000 worth of work clothes and several pairs of glasses from him.

He also donated £14,000 to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson for work events around her 40th birthday.

While these donations had been declared by those involved, Conservatives have accused ministers of being part of a "government of self-service".

Sir Keir, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and deputy prime minister Angela Rayner announced they are no longer going to accept donations for clothes following the backlash.

Lord Alli is the former chairman of online fashion retailer Asos who worked as the party's chief fundraiser for the general election.

He has donated to Labour for 20 years, and was ennobled by Tony Blair in 1998.

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